Cable sling coupling



Feb. 16, 1960 c. J. KOONS ETAL CABLE SLING COUPLING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed' April 19, 1956 INVENTORS 655 940 17. IEC #06196 0 Cliff/V6! d KOO/V5 BY 1960 c. 1. KOONS ETAL CABLE SLING COUPLING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April 19, 1956 portion. 7

Another disadvantage of the presently existing coupling.

United StatesPaten Original-application April 19, 1956, SerialNo. 579,414, now Patent No.v 2,820,661, dated=January.21, 1958.

by the Secretary of the Divided and this application January 14,1957, Serial 1 No. 634,130 s 4 Claims. c1. 294-78) (Granted under Title 35, Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention describedhereinmay be manufactured and used by'or for the United States Government for governmental purposes without payment to us of any royalty thereon. I

This application is a division of application Serial Number 579,414, filed April 19, 19-56, andissuedJanuary 21, 1958 as Patent No. 2,820,661,3andrelates to a heavy duty coupling or securing means to eifect the rapid, secure attachment of the pendent members of a sling. or

the like to a load to be lifte'dand which can further be easily andrapidly .detachedat the end .of each lifting;

operation. A a 1 The 1 present invention isi-idesigned',to replace .the p res f entlyexisting diversez -types-of attachmentsfor'the inter-- connection between a lift slingand load. An example of the problem presents itself inthe cargoloadingpf,:air; craft where-iit has been-common to utilize a different type. of connection means-between. the sling and load in accordance with the I variations in configuration and weightof the aircraft or load toibe lifted; For instance, in cable sling arrangements a different coupling device has been necessary for each of the connection points on the aircraft, such as,eyeboltsin the .tail section, bracket 7 supports on the W g,

members is the amount of timev necessary to secure the coupling to the load, such as in the use of threaded mem:,

bers; An additional drawback is the lack of provision for astandard type coupling means which is c ompact',

yet capable of being used in lightweight and heavy duty work so as to permit theuse of universal type sling ar-.

and a strap lift around-thenose ice the invention consists primarily. in the provision of a U-shaped shackle member which is pivotally connected at its free ends to the fiangeportionof the attachment fittings of the aircraft, and a socketinclos'ure assembly 'secured to the lower end of each of the cables'of a lift sling or the like, the socketassembly having an insert portion for placement of the closed .end of the shackle within the socket inclosure and'a latch arrangement se,-.

cured to the socket to permanently lock the shackle against release from thesocket. Theinvention further includes thenovel parts and combinationand arrange ment of parts as hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

Fig.l is a perspective view of atypical sling arrangement and the use of the load fastener or couplings of the.

present invention for attachment of the slingto -the fuselage of an aircraft. T

Fig. 2 is a detailed longitudinal sectional view-of the socket and-shackle assembly comprising the coupling means. r s

Fig. 3 is alongitudinal "sectional planview-takenone plane perpendicular to Fig. 2 of thesocketassembly shown in Fig. 2 with the latch arrangement in unlatched and latched positions.

Referring more particularly to the drawings there is shown in Fig. l a universal sling. arrangement 1 whichis 'moreparticularlydescribed in our copending application, Serial -Number; 579,414, filed April "l' 9,- l95 6 and issued January 21, 1958 as Patent No. 2,820,661, and which is; r I comprised broadlyof-ajmaingather link or lifting ring;.2 7 V a suspended from a standard crane .hook1J3 which; is at-,- 'tached to a crane or hoist inechanism -(notshown); Ex,-

tending. radially outwardly from the; ring openingof ,the

guide link;2 :are a plurality of chain slots 5 fo1 the inser tion ofsp endent cable-chain members 8, each of the cablechain members .8 being, provided with' a chain ..-length:10; attached by means of a, coupling 11 to the upper cndof a cable 9; To retain each of the chains in attached posi tion withinthe slots, a retainer plate] is assembled for rotatable movement on the ring opening to close the open ends of the chain slots-5. I a r a ;The inventionconsists-essentially in a couplingmeans orload fasteners 12 provided for the interconnection of each cable 9 and an aircraft 6 or load to;be'liftcd by -the crane mechanism. The coupling means 12 is madcllp broadly of a socketassembly 13 secured to. the cable .9. 'anda shackle member '14 secured to an attachmentiitting" 6a on the'aircrafftiy A,

rangements without the necessity of interchanging cables or coupling members for various configurations. and

weights of loads to be lifted.

Accordingly, it is the,primary;object o f-the presentlim" ventionto providea heavy-duty, compact coupling arrangement which can be standardized for: interconnection between-a universal type sling arrangement anda-yariety,

of weights and sizes of loads;

' As shown in Figs. 2 and sists of an upper tubular-or cylindrical portion lS having a bore portion-16 extending axiallythe'rethrough with an I .1 outwardly flared portion 16a at-the uppenend -thereoffl It is another objectto'prov deaheavyldutyfcoinpact .5

load fastener which may be securely attached for. each.

liftingope'ration, further. secure againstjrelease when unloaded; yet is rapidly detachable'from" the load and attachable foreach succeeding lifting voperation.f

-It is another object to provide a heavy duty, universal type loadfastener includinga male fitting for permanent attachment to the loads to be lifted and a unique female fitting secured to each cable sling'for the rapid, permanent interconnection of-each cable and the load. I

It is a still further objectto provide a. heavy duty, universal type load fastener for the rapid. attachment and detachment between a cable sling and load to be lifted which is secured in attached position against "accidental release. a

. With th bo e men iqt q sad 9t i t in view,

The lower end of each cable 9 is secured within the bore, a 16.by a swaging' or other suitable securing .operation,,the

outwardlyfiared. -portion 16a .acting to prevent sharp. bending ofthe cableduringthelifting operation. a '--The socket assembly'13 further includes a lower, en larged cylindrical portion or thimble 17 integrally joined.

with the upper cylindrical portion'ls by means of an outwardly, tapered portion 18. The lower-portion '17 is provided with a socket or pocket 19 ofoblong, slotted.

crosssection extending axially the length of the portion 17 and converging at its inner extremity .-into the bore 16. Positioned on diametricallyopposed sides of the lower portion 17 and. extending transversely through the wall of s the lower portion in communication with the sides of the pocket 19. are slottedv sections 20 and 21; w A latch or locking bar 22 is pivotally attached. to the sides of the 5 slot 20 adjacent the lower end thereof by means of a pinr23' fixed across the slot portion The'bar'22 is of" a length suflicient'to swing across the pocket l9'and into oppositeslot; 21with its outer edge positioned across Patented Feb. 16,1950

3,;e ach socket assembly conlower edge of the latch will be resting against the lower end of the slot 20. The latch 22 is further provided with a limit stop or catch 24 provided on the outside of its attached end to limit the return swing of the latch by abutting the lower edge of the slot thereby disposing the latch 22 in a substantially vertical position within the slot'. Positioned adjacent the limit stop 24 is a lever 24ato swing the latch back and forth.

-The shackle member 14 is also shown in Figs; 2 and 3 having a U-shaped tongue portion 26 and oval shaped free end portions 28 at the extremities of the shackle arms. The shackle14 is preferably connected to suitable attachment fittings 30 including flange 31 by placement of the flange 31 between the free end portions 28. Both the free end portions and the flange 31 are provided with mating bore portions 27 and 32 respectively for the insertion of a shackle pin 29 therethrough to permit pivotal or swivelled movement of the shackle 14 about the flange 31.

The shackle member 14 may be easily and rapidly inserted, and locked within each socket assembly 13 by lowering the pocket 19 over the outer, closed end of the tongue 26, the pocket 19 being formed of a slotted cross section slightly greater than the width and thickness of the tongue 26 to insure proper alignment of the tongue with the latch member 22. The closed end of the tongue, as his passed upwardly into the pocket, will force the latch bar 22 out of the pocket and into a sub-. stantially upright position in the slot 20, as shown in Fig. 2. As the shackle passes the end of the bar '22,

the bar will fall back or may be manually pivoted to swing between the shackle arms and into the slot 21.

In lifting the aircraft, each shackle 14 will then be restrained against release by the interpositioned bar 22.

Asnoted, the bar is disposed in a supported position against the lower edge of the slot 21 so that very little strain is taken by the latch pin 23, and also the load is distributed more evenly throughout the socket assem bly. Also, the shackle 14 will'permit shifting of the aircraft without imposing undue binding stresses on the cables, and the outwardly flared portion 16a will prevent sharp bending of the cable during the lifting operation. Upon completion of the lifting operation, the coupling member 12 is disconnected by forcing the shackle 14 upwardly past the slot 20 and swinging the latch back through the shackle opening by means of the lever 24a. The shackle may then be Withdrawn from the socket and the socket is then ready for the next lifting operations.

Although the socket and shackle coupling arrangement has been described'for use in cable type sling arrangements, it could also be made conformable for use with other types of lifting means, such as chains, or for operations other than hoisting simply by modifying the upper cylindrical portion 15. However, it will be apparent that many other changes and modifications in the arrangement and construction of the parts thereof may be resorted to without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. I

What is claimed:

1. In a universal sling arrangement having a plurality of' cable-chain members adapted for suspension from a crane apparatus, a plurality of coupling means releasably interconnecting each cable-chain member to a load tobe hoisted, each of said coupling means comprising: au shaped shackle member having 'a U-shaped tongue portion incorporating a closed inner end and a pair of parallel shackle arms integrally formed therewith and terminating in a pair of open end portions at the end thereof remote from said closed inner end in hinged connection with attachment fittings provided for said load, an elongated socket assembly, having an upper cylindrical portion provided with an outwardly flared bore extending axially therethrough for connection to a respective cable-chain member and an enlarged lower cylindrical portion incorporating a slotted socket axially aligned with the upper cylindrical portion for receiving the tongue portion of said shackle member and a pair of diametrically opposed slotted sections extending transversely through the walls of the lower cylindrical portion in communication with the sides of the socket, and latch means pivotally disposed in one of said slotted sections to initially swing upwardly to an inoperative position therein upon passage of said tongue portion into said socket and to subsequently swing downwardlyf between said pair of shackle arms into continuous supporting contact against the lower edge of the other of said slotted sections to positively lock said shackle and the load connected therewith within the socket of the lower cylindrical portion of said socket assembly.

2'. In a universal sling, a coupling arrangement for attachment of a cable to a load to be lifted comprising an elongated socket assembly having an upper relatively narrow cylindrical portion having an axially extending bore for insertion and connection thereinto of a cable, an enlarged lower cylindrical portion having an enlarged end opening and incorporating an inner relatively elongated pocket extending axially therethrough into said bore terminating adjacent the inner end of said upper portion and having opposite longitudinally slotted portions extending transversely through opposite side walls thereof terminating attheir inner ends in spaced relation to the inner end of said upper relatively narrow cylindrical ,portion, anda latch member pivotally attached between the sides of one ofjsaid slotted portions at the lower end thereof for pivotal movement'through said pocket and across said opposite slotted portion in supporting engagement on the lower edge thereof when in the latched position, and a U-shaped shackle memberhaving a U-shaped portionforming a pair ofshackle arms incorporating a closed end portion for slidable insertion in the enlarged end opening and said pocket and engageable with said latch member to positively lock said shackle member thereto when said latch member has pivoted into said opposite slotted portion, and a pairof free end portions spaced apart for pivotal connection to an attachment fitting adapted for attachment to th load to be lifted.

3. In a universal sling having a plurality of cable members adapted for suspension from a'crane apparatus or the like, a plurality ofcoupling means to, releasably interconnect each cable and a load to be lifted, each of said coupling means comprising'a substantially U-shaped shackle having shackle arms incorporating an integral closed end and an open end in hinged connection to the load, a socket assembly having means at the upper end thereof for attachment to a respective cable'and a lower cylindrical portion having a shackle receiving relatively elongated, pocket "extending upwardly into said cylindrical portion of oblong cross section to receive the integral closed end of said shackle and retain said shackle in predetermined position within said pocket, and diametrically opposed longitudinal slotsj passing transversely through the wall of said lower cylindrical portion to communicate with the sides of said pocket, a latch member mounted, at one .endbetween the sides of one of-said, longitudinal slotslfor. initialswinging movement upwardly upon passage, ofjthe closed endof said, shackle into the pocket and fora subsequent downward swinging movement between said shacklearrns rearwardly of and in contact with said closed end of said shackle into said opposite slot in substantial abutting engagement with the lower end of said slot to restrain said shackle against release, a control lever member connected to the pivotal end of said latch member; toiretu rn said latch member to an upward position for rapid release of said latch, and stop means on said latch member ad secured to each of said cable members, a shackle member adapted for attachment to the'load to be lifted, and means interconnecting said socket assembly-and said shackle member, each of said socket assemblies consisting of an upper relatively narrow cylindrical portion wardly flared, relatively narrow upper end opening and adapted for securing the lower end of a respective cable member therein, a lower relatively enlarged cylindrical portion having a pair of diametrically, opposed, transversely extending slotted sideportions and terminating spams for swinging movement across said recessed socket porone (if said slottd side portions and 'a' lower latched position extending into the other of said slotted side portions at right angles to said unlatched position in substantially continuous supporting contact on the lower having an axially. extending bore terminating in an outedge of-said last-named slotted side portion and engaged between said'pair of shackle arms in positive locking position against said tongue portion when said shackle member is in mounted condition with said socket assembly, and a limit stop member incorporated on said in an enlarged lower endopening, a relatively elongated,

recessed socket portion incorporated within said lower portion having a pair of diametrically opposed slotted side portions in communication with the 'slottedside portions of said lower portion, and an outwardly tapered intermediate portion integrally joining said upper and lower portions, each of saidshackle members consisting of an elongated tongue portion at one end thereof extending into said enlarged lower end opening in engagement with a'relatively elongated flange portion of spaced shackle arms terminating in a pair of open free end portions at the other end thereof each incorporat ing a transversely disposed'bore portion for mating engagement with a relatively elongated flange portion of an attachment fitting positioned therebetween and adapted to be secured to the loadv to be lifted, said interconlatchmember adjacent its pivot on said mounting'pin in periodic abutting engagement with the lower edge 1 of'said first-named slotted sideportion to limit the return swing of said latch member to its unlatched position.

- References Cited in the file of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,741,463 Hickok Dec. 31, 1929 1,882,167 Thirlwell Oct. 11, 1932. 2,414,725 Dunn Jan., 21, 1947 2,676,834 Grazier Apr. 27, .1954 2,721,757 Anderson Oct. 25, 1955 1 2,820,661 Koons et al. -Ian. 21, 1958 V FOREIGN 'PATENTS;-. i r

1,067,746 France Jan.27, 1954' necting means comprising a mounting'pi'n ,aflixed be tween opposite interior side walls of the lower portion of said socket assembly adjacent andtransverse to one; of said diametrically opposed slotted side'portions, a" latch member pivotally positioned on said: mounting pin l D sm'r as PATENT OFFICE 'OF CORRECTION February 16,

UNITE CERTIFICATE 2925 299 Clarence J.-, Koons et certified that error appear mbered patent req should rea Patent No.

v Itis hereby s in the printed specification of the above nu airing cor 1 d as correction and that the said Letters Patent "rected below.

ively elongated Column. 5. line 27, for "with a 'relat flange portion ofg read in said socket portion and a pair of parallel, -v.

hfday of September 1960.,

Signed and sealed this 20t .(S"EAL) Attest: p I KARL AXLINE I v I ROBERT c. WATSQN I I I cnnmissioner of Patents attesti g Officer 

